Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1887-07-13
THE GROWING CROPS.
July Report of the Department of
Agriculture.

WASHINGTON, D. c., July 9.-The stat
istician of the Department or Agricul-
ture reports further extension of the
corn area of about 100000,
acres an increase of 2 per cent.
over the acreage of 1886. In
states of declining wheat culture maize
has advanced it's era largely, notably in
Kansas. A marked advance is noted in
the district between the Missis-
sippi and the Rocky Mountains, and
a considerable increase is reported
in the cotton states. The season has
been fairly favorable both for planting
and growing, and condition is high,
averaging 95.7, which differs little from
the July condition for the past three
years, and is materially higher than for
three years preceding 1884. The great
corn-growing states, which furnish the
surplus, average nearly 80 in condition.
The condition of winter wheat on the
first of July, or at the time of harvest
for the more southern states, is $50, q
reduction since the June report Of IA.
There has been heavyd ecline in Kan
sas, material reduction in California,
with some loss of the Southern States.
Some Of the remainder have gained a
point or two and others have lost. The
chinch bug has wrought some damage in
most of the Western States and in Mary
land and Virginia. Where harvested
grain has been threshed, results are va
riable with plump, sound grain in some
localities, and shrunken berry indi-
Gated in others.
There is reported a somewhat serious
decline in the condition of spring wheat,
largely from the prevalence of chinch
bugs. The general average is 1911 Last
month it was S7.3. The average for
Wisconsin is II; Minnesota, 1872;
Iowa, 72; Nebraska, 70; Dakota,
81. The chinch bug, the Hessian
fly, the grasshopper in the Northw est,
and the joint worm in West Virginia
have all aided in reducing the yield of
wheat.
The average condition of winter rye
is 50, of spring rye, S4.3, showing de-
cline in condition since the last report
of per cent.
The average for barley is likewise re-
duced. It is 820. instead of $50 last
month. The decline is mainly in the
west.
A reduction appears in oats, from 81
in June, to IS, due to drought and insect
ravages. It is heaviest in Kentucky,
Illinois, Wisconsin, and states west Of
the Mississippi.
There has been an increase of 2.7 per
cent. in the acreage of potatoes, the
largest rate of advance being in Dakota,
Kansas and Nebraska. The condition
average is SO, which is little below the
July averages Of the previous three
years.
There is apparently decline of about
one-siXth in the tobacco area In which
nearly all the tobacco growing states par
ticipate. The average of condition is "a
lower July figure than for several
years.
The status of the cotton crop has not
declined since the last report. In the
Southeast there is a slight reduction,
compensated by small advances in the
states west OF the Mississippi. The
average is 81, which is 4 points higher
than the average for July in the previ
GUS ten years. 1t was exceeded in 1873
and 1880, and nearly equalled in July of
1881 and 1884, which were years ofsmall
production. There have been but two
July records below 90 since 1873.
The state averages are: Virginia
SO; North Carolina, SO; South Car
DINA, 81; Georgia, 96; Florida
50; Alabama, 50; Mississippi, SO; Louisi-
ana, 90; Texas, SO; Arkansas, 90; Ten
nessee, 90. The crop is under unusually
clean cultivation, there are few reports
Of injury from excessive moisture and
few of drought Cotton worms are in
Dictated in very few locations.